2018 Dakar Rally: Peterhansel lost an hour on Stage 13, Ten Brinke is out

The Stage 13 of 2018 Dakar Rally which took place between San Juan and Cordoba was the one of the most dramatic in the 40th edition of the world’s toughest cross-country race. Two of five top drivers faced big problems which resulted in a retirement for Bernhard ten Brinke (#309 Toyota) and one-hour time loss for Stephane Peterhansel (#300 Peugeot).

The fastest on the Stage 13 was Nasser Al-Attiyah (#301 Toyota) while the overall rally leader Carlos Sainz (#303 Peugeot) stayed on the top after today’s sixth-fastest time.

Carlos Sainz is entering the last day with a comfort lead

The 929-km long stage was divided to 560 kilometers of link section and two-part 369-km long timed section. On the first part of timed section, Peterhansel had an accident which caused a big loss of time, moving him from second place overall to the fifth place. Bernhard ten Brinke was the fastest and he jumped to third place in general standings.

Unfortunately for the Dutchman, the #309 Toyota Hilux suffered a terminal mechanical failure after 570 kilometers of the stage, forcing him to retire from the race just one day before the end. One Toyota’s misfortune became another Toyota’s fortune, securing Nasser Al-Attiyah’s fourth stage victory.

In the general standings after thirteen stages, Carlos Sainz is 46min18sec ahead of Nasser Al-Attiyah. Giniel de Villiers is third, one hour twenty minutes behind Sainz. Stephane Peterhansel is fourth, just eight minutes behind De Villiers.

On January 20, the last day of the rally, a loop stage near Cordoba is on a schedule. The stage is 120 km long and it’s hard t believe that Carlos Sainz can lose his second Dakar Rally victory in a career.